Everything Horse magazine Magazine, October 2014 | Page 25

A QUICK GUIDE ON ...

A quick guide on....

How to look after your horse’s
tack this winter

Julia Andrews, Managing
Director of Kate Negus
Saddlery, the company known
for its bespoke British bridles
and accessories, shares her tips
when it comes to looking after
your horse’s tack this autumn
and winter.
Show a little TLC

When you’ve invested in a smart
saddle or beautiful bridle, you’ll want
to ‘get your money’s worth’ and, also,
ensure that it performs as it should
do. As with everything, you need to
make sure you do your bit…you need
to show it a little TLC and it’ll look after
you.

Do it properly

If you’re going to clean your saddle or
bridle, do it properly. Take your bridle
apart, remove your stirrup leathers,
and remove your girth too. Use
your time cleaning to also check the
condition of your tack – keep an eye
out for damaged stitching or cracks.

Avoid the radiator!!

Thinking of the winter, let’s address
one big issue…wet. If your bridle or
saddle gets wet, don’t put it next to
the radiator to dry out! It needs to dry
naturally in a warm environment away
from direct heat. Extreme heat could
cause the leather to dry too quickly,
which could cause cracking…which no
one wants. Allow your leather to dry
before you try and clean it.
If your leather is dry (or has had
chance to dry), use a warm water to
clean away any mud. Don’t get the
leather too wet, put your cloth in
the warm water (and old face flannel
is ideal), wring it out, and use that
to clean away the mud, rinsing and
wringing frequently.

check with the manufacturer of your
tack. We suggest that Oakwood Soap
is used, with a dry cloth, to clean the
leather after its initial wipe down, to
make sure all grease and dirt has been
removed…it’s magic stuff!
If you’re planning to use a balsam,
balm or other conditioning product,
allow your leather to dry thoroughly
first. These types of products are
designed to lock moisture into the
leather, and if the leather’s wet, you
could well find that it’ll stretch under
duress, and you don’t want that. Use
balsams, balms and conditioning
products sparingly. You don’t need to
use them each time you clean your
tack, but you’ll find that their use will
make your tack a lot easier to clean.
If your tack does get wet, used a
balsam after it’s dried out, to help
restore the leather that may have been
compromised.

Storage

As for storage, keep your tack away
from extremes of temperature and try
and use a cover or bag, especially if it
isn’t used each day, as dust can scratch
leather. If you have a leather girth, it
should be stored hanging from the
buckles, not attached to the saddle.
To find out more about Kate Negus
Saddlery and its bespoke British
bridlework for every occasion, see
www.katenegus.com or call 0780 115
0571.

Check Manufacturers suggestions
Different leather manufacturers will
suggest different soaps or products, so

October 2014 • Issue 13 • Everything Horse UK Magazine

25